The Uniqueness of Allah's Attributes

6. Allah is Everliving, Self-subsisting, the Sustainer, He by Whom all things,
al-`Arsh(1), al-Kursiyy (2), the heavens, the earth and all that is therein were
created; they all stand in need of Him, and He stands in need of none. To Him
belong Glory and Majesty.

1- Al-`Arsh was the first created thing, and it is the greatest of all. It is
one of the things which mankind knows not in reality, but only by name. It is
erroneously translated as "throne" for if it were that, it would be a support
to Allah. Allah says: "Verily Allah holds the heavens and the earth, lest they
should move from their place; and if they should move from their place, no
one would hold them after Him "
35.59 [cf. Mufradat of ar-Raghib]

2-Although there are different traditions describing al-Kursiyy, none of them is
proven to be authentic, according to ash-Sheikh Nassirud-Din al-Albani (the
leading authority in the science of Hadeeth of the present time) except one
hadeeth quoted by him in his Silsilatul Ahdadeeth as-Sahihah (No. 109 of Vol.1):
The Prophet (Peace be on Him) was reported to have said: "The seven
heavens by the side of the KURSIYY are nought but as a ring thrown down in a
desert land: and such is the KURSIYY with respect to the `ARSH."

7. Allah is the omniscient, Whose knowledge comprehends in the most perfect
manner all things, hidden or open, the small and the great(3). Nothing is absent
from His knowledge, nor anything is hidden from Him even if it be the weight
of the smallest ant(4). Whether at rest or in motion, the state of things is
known to Him prior to and during its occurrance. He is neither 'heedless nor
is He errant(5)

8. Allah the Supreme is the Lord of everything and is its proprietor. He has
a free hand in the disposal of all affairs. There is no one to share His domain
nor is there an aider or supporter from His creatures.

9. Allah the Glorified is the Compassionate, the Merciful Whose mercy
encompasses all things. He is far removed from injustice or tyranny(6).

10. Allah is well acquainted with internal and external affairs of all things,
and is All-Wise. He is free from defect or imperfection. There is no
incongruity nor any unsoundness in His judgment(7). Nothing He chooses is in
vain, nor is there anything not under His control.

11. Allah the Exalted loves, feels contentment, rejoices and laughs, and He
also hates, dislikes, abhors and becomes angry, yet none of these Divine
attributes resembles those of human beings(8).

8- The term 'Divine attributes' is restricted to the attributes imputed to Allah
by Himself, or by His Apostle(Peace be on Him). They should not be carried
beyond their linguistic meaning. One should avoid trying to imagine the reality
of these attributes; to deny them, or to attempt to interpret them, leads to
kufr (unbelief).

12. Allah the Exalted is Gracious and Merciful, Who delivers His believing
slaves and supports them. The disbelievers on the other hand, He leaves
bereft of aid, punishes, exacts vengeance upon, deceives and draws to
destruction little by little.

13. Allah the Most High speaks to his slaves as He wishes(9). He descends and
comes closer to His slaves as He wills(10). He has a face(11), a hand(12) a
leg(13) and a foot(14). Yet none of the attributes of His essence resembles
those of human beings.

10- Abu Hurairah narrated: "Allah's Apostle said: Every night when it is the
last third of the night, our Lord, the Supreme, the Blessed descends to the
nearest heaven and says: 'Is there anyone to invoke Me that I may respond to
his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me that I may grant his request? Is
there anyone asking My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?'" Bukhari Vol
IX, p 435.

13- "The day the Shin shall be laid bare, and they shall be summoned to
prostrate, but they shall not be able to do so."
68.42

14- Anas narrated: The Prophet(Peace be on Him) said: "The people will be
thrown into Hell Fire and it will keep on saying, 'Are there any more? Until
the Lord of the Worlds puts His feet over it , whereupon its sides will come
close to each other, and it will say: 'Enough, enough'. . . " Bukhari Vol. IX,
p.357

14. Allah, Praise be to Him, is the Omnipotent, and there is nothing to
frustrate His power or ability to attain or accomplish anything, nor does the
preservation of the heavens and earth burden Him(15). There is no strength nor
power to do anything except by means of Him.

15. Allah the Supreme is Benignant, Generous with His bounty. He confers
benefits and favours upon His slaves. There is neither a gift nor a grace but
from Him, and there is none who can repel or withhold His bounties.

16. Allah the Glorious is far greater than to be encompassed by the knowledge
of His creatures(16), and there is no reign which can surpass His. No one can
praise Allah as well as Allah praises Himself, nor is there any who can
comprehend the essence of Allah as Allah does.

16- "He knows what is before them and what is behind them, while they cannot
encompass Him with their knowledge."
20.110